Unknown Highs

Vaughan Bell analyzes a recent study examining the chemicals in synthetic drugs. Most of the drugs fall into two categories: “‘fake pot’ – made from synthetic cannabinoids and stimulants, usually derived from cathinone.” One reason Bell is concerned:

[O]ne ‘legal pot’ sample contained both a new synthetic cannabinoid (identified as URB-754) and a cathinone (4-Me-MABP) in it. What was most surprising though, was that these substances had chemically reacted with one another to create a completely new combination drug. … In other words, while the makers intended to put both a cannabinoid and a stimulant in the same product, they probably never knew that the substances had chemically combined to produce a hybrid compound with completely unknown properties. The legal high market is becoming an informal opt-in drug-testing experiment with paying subjects.